Coin-controlled telephone-call apparatus.



No. 635,852. Patented on. 3|, I899. a. B. HEATH.

COIN CUNTBDLLED TELEPHONE CALL APPARATUS. (Application filed Oct. 31, 1898. Renewedflct. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT COIN-CONTROLLED TELEPHONE-CALL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,852, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed October 31, 1898. Renewed October 4, 1899. $erial No. 732,574. (No model.)

To all whom it mcty'oonoern:

Be it known'that I, Gnonen B. HEATH,a citizen of the United States, residing at San Franciseo, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Telephone-Call Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in coin-controlled apparatus and is designed more particularly for use in connection with telephones to prevent defrauding of the telephone company.

It has for its objects, among others, to provide an improved construction of this character by which the operator at the central office can readily tell if the box is being tampered with and have it under his or her control,so that the company cannot be defrauded, the construction that forms the subject-matter of this application being such that if a wire or a piece of metal be put down the coinslot it will short-circuit the two main lines and put out the light or aifect the other signal in the central office. If the light should stay lighted after the key at the central ofice is pressed or go out before the key is actuated, it will indicate that some one is tampering with the box. I aim to make the con: struction as simple as possible, yet positive in its action, so that it will be reliable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims. The novelty in this instance resides in the peculiar construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts, all as. more fully improvement and a diagram of the electrical connections with the centraloffice. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the coin chute and balance with portions in section.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a box or casing within which the operating parts of my apparatus are arranged. In the top of this box or casing is a slot or opening which communicates with the upper portion B of the chute, which in turn communicates with the lower portion 0 of the said chute. The upper and lower portions 13 and O are insulated from each other by the block D, of insulating material, and which serves in a measure to support the lower portion, as shown. These two portions of the coin-chute are connected to each side of the main line, as seen in Fig. 1.

E is a plate, the lower edge of which is preferablyserrated, as seen in Fig. 1, and this plate is pivotally mounted, as at F, in the side walls of the lower portion of the coinchute, as seen in Fig. 2, and extending from this pivot is an arm or rod G, which is adapted to move with the plate, and upon this rod, which is by preference screw-threaded, is a weight H, the weight being adjustable on the rod, so that the same may be moved when desired to vary the ease with which the said plate may be moved. This plate normally extends across the passage through the chute, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to prevent the introduction of a wire or any means to withdraw the coin or to attempt to depress the balance soon to be described. It is so counterbalanced as to move by the weight of the coin thereon and then to move back to its former position by reason of the weight H.

I is an arm or lever pivotally mounted between its ends, as at J, within the box or casing and carrying at one end beneath the lower end of the coin-chute a plate J, from I the side of which projects a pin K in such position as to be directly beneaththe discharge of the lower portion of the coin-chute, as seen best in Fig. 2, and upon which the coin is designed to fall as it drops from the chute. From this point the coin is designed to drop into a cash-receptacle L, suitably supported within the box or casing, as seen in Fig. 1. The opposite end of this arm or lever carries the armature M, as seen in Fig. 1, which is designed for cooperation with the magnet N, suitably supported within the case and connected up as shown in Fig. 1.

O is a contact-point adjustably mounted on the arm or lever I between its pivot and the end carrying the armature, and this contact is designed for cooperation with the contact P, carried by the free end of the spring P, suitably supported within the box, as seen in Fig. 1.

Q is a key, and R is a lamp located at the central office.

S is a battery.

The parts are connected up as follows: The wire 1 runs from the battery to the key Q and from the other pole of the battery to the binding-post 2, within the box or casing A. From this binding-post the wire connects with the coils of the magnet or solenoid and from the other end to the spring P. The wire 3 runs from the contact T of the key Q to the lamp and from the lamp to the binding-post 4. From this binding-post a wire connects with the lower portion of the coinchute, and another wire 5 connects this binding-post with the pivot of the arm or lever I, all as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

6 is a wire connecting the binding-post 2 with the upper portion of the coin-chute.

U is a spring having one end secured to some fixed part and its other end attached to the arm or lever I between its pivot and the end that is beneath the coin-chute and serving to normally keep the said end elevated, as will be readily understood.

With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as above set forth the operation will be readily understood, especially when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. Briefly stated, it is as follows: Fig. 1 represents the parts in their normal position. When the coin is dropped in the slot, it passes down past the catch-plate E, and as it comes in contact with the pin or projection K on the balance-lever it moves the same downward and brings the other end of the. lever upward, bringing the contact 0 up against the contact P,which completes the circuit through the coil or magnet. When the current goes through the coils, it magnetizes the core X, which attracts the armature M, keeping the points 0 and P together until the circuit is opened by the operator at the key Q in the central oiiice. lVhen the circuit is opened by the manipulation of the key, the core loses the armature, and the weight of the balancelever causes the two contact-points to separate, thus putting out the lamp at the central office. Should a wire or a piece of metal be put down the slot, it would short-circuit the two main lines and cutting out the coil prevent the working of the box. If the wire should be pulled out, the light would go out without the central-ofiice operator touching the key. The light should stay lit until the key is depressed.

The serrated catch-plate serves most eifectually to prevent any tampering with the box without notifying the central office.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is 1. In a device of the character described, a coin-chute in sections with the sections separated horizontally and insulated from each other by an insulating-block supporting the lower section said sections being connected with the main lines, and a lamp and key in circuit with the main lines, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with the coin-chute in sections insulated from each other, of the pivoted lever, the projection at one end at right angles to the length of the lever, the armature at the other end, the vertically-adjustable contact carried by said lever between its pivot and armature, the relatively-fixed contact, the lamp and key, and the coil and electrical connections, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a coin-chute in sections insulated from each other, a pivoted lever with one end beneath the chute and carrying a projection at right angles to the length of the lever to be engaged by a coin, an armature on the other end of the lever, a contact carried by said lever between its pivot and armature, a relatively-fixed contact for cooperation therewith, a coil for cooperation with said armature, a lamp and key, connections between the sections of the coin-chute and the main line, and connections between the lever, fixed contact and the coil, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

at. The combination of the coin-chute in sections insulated from each other, the pivoted lever, its plate and projection at right angles to the plate, the armature and contact carried by said lever, the contact being between the pivot of the lever and its armature, the relatively-fixed contact carried by a springarm, and electrical connections with a lamp and key in the main line, whereby tampering with the device is indicated at the central office, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 

